Parker Beam Has ALS

Over the last year or so, there have been rumors and speculation about the health of long time Heaven Hill Master Distiller Parker Beam. Today, Heaven Hill announced that Parker is in the early stages of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, and the company plans to use the fall 2013 release of Parker's Heritage Collection to raise awareness of the disease and raise money for the ALS Association. They will donate $20 from each bottle sold and expect to raise $250,000. The ALS Association has established a special fund, known as Parker Beam's Promise of Hope Fund. Presumably, it will also be possible to make direct donations to the fund in Parker's honor.

This is sad news, of course, but Parker is still working and still intends to select the whiskey for Parker's Heritage Collection personally.

Re: Parker Beam Has ALS

This is terrible news and I am sad to hear it,having meet both Craig and Parker in the past.I wish the best to him and his family,I hope he is able to continue his diligent work for HH for a great some time to come.I am glad to see a fund has already been lined up for his behalf,he has earned much respect within and outside of the industry and I hope his work in the future continues to shine.I wish him all the best,truly sad news and something that will stick with me for quite some time.

"To deny our own impulses is to deny the very thing that makes us human."
Larry Wachowski​

Re: Parker Beam Has ALS

Very sad news. My prayers will be with him and his family as he fights this terrible disease. And as Jim pointed out, Heaven Hill again is showing why they are such a great company run by really terrific people.

Re: Parker Beam Has ALS

Part of this, and doing it this way, is because Heaven Hill felt it owed it to us, the fans of Parker and his whiskeys, to let us know his condition. There is a natural tendency to want to keep this sort of thing private, but they recognize that people genuinely care and they wanted to make sure they managed the news in an honest but sensitive way. I think they showed that Heaven Hill is a class operation, and all of the love we throw their way is well deserved.

Re: Parker Beam Has ALS

As a scientist researching the cause and molecular mechanism of ALS and related neurodegenerative diseases, I know all too well what this diagnosis means. It is heartening that HH and the Beams are doing their best to raise awareness and fundraise for disease research. Research is moving fast to identify the genetic and environmental causes of disease, but our understanding of why motor neurons atrophy in ALS patients is still very limited.

Parker Beam

Per Bourbon Trail:

Heaven Hill announced today that Master Distiller Parker Beam has been diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). Parker is a living legend, a Kentucky gentleman, charter member of the Bourbon Hall of Fame and one of the finest ambassadors for our signature industry. Here's a link to make a contribution to the Parker Beam Promise of Hope Fund through the ALS Association to find a cure for this disease. Please make a donation and keep Parker and his family in your thoughts and prayers.